My Friendly Mermaid

This was a fun little story to write. My kids were its main inspiration, as one might guess, as most little girls are in love with mermaids! The fins, the glitter, the adventure! What chocolate-mouthed miniature lady wouldn't care for swimming with dolphins and exploring the mysterious ocean depths?

Okay, you got me. I'm obsessed with mermaids too. (Sips the nonexistent Starbucks drink of the same name I never got to try because diabetes sucks).

You see, when I'm not writing, I am a character entertainer. I have quite a fun closet! Tutus, fairy wings, clown wigs, and ballgowns compete for space with a furry Big Foot suit I made out of Halloween dwarf beards, all hung on desperately unhappy hangers that strain to cling to the metal rack above (on which sits hats, hair clips, make-up, more wigs, and a confusing box of mismatched gloves).

The pride of my collection, however, is a stunning, brilliantly colored and intricately painted mermaid tail, custom fit to my exact measurements (that I now must fight to maintain forever because HOLY CROW, EXPENSIVE). It is painted in the likeness of a Peacock Mantis Shrimp, and the kids at the birthday parties I gig for just go bananas over it!

While most hosts/hostesses hiring a mermaid for their child's birthday party snub their noses at the idea of story-time, since cake and sunshine are not conducive to quietly seated guests, there are times that I find myself hired out to a festival or a booth-event where there is no place to swim or move in any capacity. From a blanket on the grass or seated on a chair decorated with seashells and scarves, it helps maintain the little ones' attention to pull out a book. And not just any book: something short so the parents don't get feisty, something big so clumsy hands can help turn the pages, something happy that brings forth smiles, something mildly educational that mentions cute little critters they may already recognize from school or morning cartoons, and naturally, it would be best if it featured a mermaid or two.

Well, that's a tall order if you are clicking your way, one link at a time, through Amazon books, especially if you are trying to avoid trademarks on well-known mermaids while entertaining in [insert name of major theme park here] territory. Luckily, the creative juices were flowing, so I sat down while my oldest was at school and my youngest played who-gets-the-couch with the dog and typed that baby out. It had everything I wanted, and I still use this story today.

My kids were thrilled, especially as I helped them sound out their names on the dedication page. Mama had written a book just for them, and their hearts were bursting. I asked their permission, of course, to use my own copy to take with me to gigs, and they smiled with all their might and approved that I could. It was something all for them but that they could share without having to give up anything. A novel idea to kids already so blessed in the capacity to share, they took to it enthusiastically and ask frequently how the birthday party or festival kids enjoyed their story. They do, very much.

Kindle and Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/My-Friendly-Mermaid-Kimberlee-Long/dp/1500631272/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517268391&sr=1-4&keywords=Kimberlee+Long